Tag Archives: Leaving a Cult

Uncategorized, WOFF Updates

Update: Covington seeking plea deal- McKinny seeks continuance

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Updated 10/22/2018 12:25AM-
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Charles McKeller, attorney for Diane McKinny filed a motion October 19th for continuance stating he had 125,000 pages of discovery to review and 30 hours of video. In his Motion, he “has been informed by the US Attorney that more discovery is forthcoming.” The motion leaves the scheduling of the court date up to the Court. A ruling is expected some time before November 7th.
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Documents filed in court October 19th reveal the M. Kent Covington has under counsel been in negotiations with Federal prosecutors to obtain a plea deal. The deadline for the plea deal normally would have been October 19th. The Judge agreed to extend the deadline for the working out the details until October 26th.

Assistant United States District Attorney Daniel Bradley did not oppose the motion.

From the document:

2. Defendant and the Government have agreed in principle, and are currently finalizing plea documents.

3. Defendant anticipates that plea documents will be signed and filed within the week, time being 26 October 2018.

The news is exciting. There are expectations for additional indictments in the next few months. Exact details of the plea deal(s) coming are not known. Along with others, I wait for news and details coming hopefully this week.

This may be the shortest post on this blog. This may also be the most encouraging for ex-members and those who have family still trapped inside the vortex of Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF).

What does this last quarter of 2018 hold?

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Uncategorized, WOFF Updates

Charges Dismissed-Safe Exits from WOFF remain a concern

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Wednesday, I received confirmation that the second-degree trespassing charges initiated by Jayne Caulder against Wayne Guffey, David Wheeler and I, were set to be dismissed. These charges were filed after events on July31st at Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF). The video has been viewed over 20,000 times and though I am not providing a link, it can be seen at Rccatalyst.com in an article about the events and dismissal. Also, Daily Courier article.

Rather than trudge through the mire of who said, she said, they did, we did not- I will say the North Carolina Attorney General Special Counsel Adren L. Harris was able to bypass hype and emotion and use sound legal reasoning on which to base the dismissal.

“Although is it evident from the video the Mrs. Caulder repeatedly asks the defendants to leave the Word of Faith Fellowship premises, and they remained while seeking clarification, it would be unreasonable to interpret the word “remain” to include such a brief or temporary interlude that lasted only a few minutes.”
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Ten years ago… today

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Confused, heartbroken and sad… I pulled out of the driveway on Carver Lane and drove across the street to speak to my son. He was watering flowers for the neighbors who were also long-time members of Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF). After a short exchange ever-burned in my memory, I got back in the van and made announcement calls to my daughter and my wife. Still, it did not occur to me that after 20 years of marriage including fathering two beautiful children; that the drive I took up Highway 221 to Marion would lead to the dissolving of family I loved so dearly. Thinking the separation would be temporary, I asked my new landlord for a six month or shorter lease.

My unwillingness to accept the plight other spouses had endured after leaving the confines of WOFF did not change the outcome. The months melted into years and the gulf separating me from my children remained. My wife filed for divorce and then sued me for back child support. The divorce became official while her monetary quest was not successful as she planned.

The communication with my children dried up ending in returned letters and shredded checks. The failed attempts to connect never quenched my love for them. There remains in my heart a father’s love which will never fade through time and eternity.
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Chad Cooper Files Complaint against WOFF and named leadership for Alienation of Affection

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A “Complaint and Petition for Relief for Alienation of Affection” was filed May 15, 2018 in Rutherford County District Court, by Chad W. Cooper. This Complaint outlines various claims against the defendants: Jayne Caulder, David Caulder, Jane Whaley and Sam Whaley, Brooke and Kent Covington, Amy Mattos and the Word of Faith Fellowship (Inc.) (WOFF). The claims include accusations against the defendants that they “willfully, actively, wrongfully and intentionally interfered with the marital relationship” of Chad Cooper and Lauren (Caulder) Cooper.

The file number is -18 CVD 579. All of the defendants having been served, the deadline for answering this Complaint has been moved to July 24th. There has also been a motion filed by Josh Farmer representing WOFF seeking to move the case to Superior Court in light of the requested sum total of “monetary relief in excess of $4,000,000.”

What is “alienation of affection?”
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Uncategorized, WOFF Updates

Conundrums and Complications… (audio)

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Diane McKinny pleads “not guilty” – given a $500,000 unsecured bond

Before the initial hearing started on Monday in front of Magistrate Judge Dennis Howell, the court atmosphere was relaxed and filled with conversations between McKinny’s defense attorney, Mack McKeller, and other court participants. Mr. McKeller was obviously known by all of the regular court staff. He gave the court reporter a hug in the friendliest way and received a warm welcome from the Magistrate once everyone was in their place to start the hearing.

The hearing started at 10:13AM. Magistrate Howell led by outlining the order of the proceedings: there would be an initial hearing, a detention hearing and an arraignment. He started by asking Diane several introductory questions meant to establish her ability to hear, read and understand the procedures as each step occurred. He read a list of her rights including not saying anything and a right to jury trial as well as others.

Soon, he was into the reading of the multi-page Indictment which served as a foundation for the other steps taken during this session.
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Uncategorized, WOFF Updates

This is not a parking ticket… (audio)

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Kent Covington and Diane McKinny indicted on wire fraud conspiracy charges

On Thursday last week, I missed a call from a reporter. Not taking time to listen to the voice mail, a few minutes later, I called them back.

“Have you heard? There were more members indicted today. Kent Covington and Diane McKinny…
“I know them…”
It’s Marion Kent Covington – right? Yes, I replied. Wire fraud involving unemployment benefits…

My mind started racing and my phone started going off with message alerts. My email started filling up. A little later came a call from another reporter asking if I heard. Someone else called asking if for sure Diane McKinny was a WOFF member.

Thus began the next public unveiling of more details of the UI scheme first reported in September of 2017 by the Associated Press. In May of this year, the news was confirmed by the guilty plea of Dr. Jerry Gross and his son, Jason Gross. They plead guilty on May 25th to one count of wire fraud and are waiting for their sentencing. Each was assigned a $200,000 unsecured bond.

Jerry and Jason were charged through a Bill of Information and waived the indictment process- affirming the information presented by the Federal Attorney and pleading guilty without a trial.

Kent Covington and Diane McKinny face a different process. They are facing the indictment and will go through some additional steps. Yes, the recent press release reminds us all that Covington and McKinny are presumed innocent until or unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Uncategorized, WOFF Updates

Anderson vs. Anderson – First Day in Court (audio)

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After long delays for one reason or another, the Anderson vs. Anderson custody case began this morning in front of the Honorable Judge Thomas McAvoy “Mack” Brittain, Jr. in courtroom 3 of the Rutherford County courthouse. There was a full day of testimonies from several folks. For this post, I will summarize a few key points and expound on them in the mp3 file included. I am not promising this format from here on out, but I am hoping it will be quicker and a better use of my time. Not sure you would call this an official podcast, but I will do my best to edit the audio to make it pleasant to listen to while including much more information than if I wrote out today’s adventures.

Here is a short recap of a few of the vital issues on the table. Plaintiff Nicholas Anderson filed action against Sarah Anderson after she left the Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) February 26, 2016. The son, Aden Brock Anderson first left with Sarah and on a subsequent weekend of agreed visitation for Nick, he did not return the child as promised. March 7, 2016, he filed for divorce and child custody. He first listed he desire for primary care and custody, but also listed a shared custody option.

March 16, 2016; Judge Laura Powell signed a Memorandum of Judgment outlining joint custody and the parameters. Included in this order was the following:

“e. Neither party shall subject the child or allow anyone else to subject the child to abuse, including yelling, shaking, striking or any form of physical abuse.”

I was in the court room that day and felt this was a victory for Sarah. Not a guarantee it would never happen, just open acknowledgment that the Judge was aware it could happen and may have previously. Unfortunately, Judge Powell recused herself February 28, 2017 the day after the first article from the Associated Press outlining allegations of abuse from ex-members.

April 4, 2016- Sarah filed an Answer to Nick’s Compliant. She stated in her motion after telling Nick her intention to not return to WOFF and not allowing their son to return; she was denied access to the marital home “if she would not submit herself to church scrutiny and discipline.”

Also, in this document, under the “Child Custody” section:

“34. That the Defendant has maintained the primary care of the minor child through the date of the separation when the Defendant voiced concerned about the safety of the infant child being subjected to secretive church practices of physical mistreatment in which the Plaintiff was unwilling to intervene and provide protection for the minor child.”

These two points and more were the basis for much of the testimony today. Nick’s attorney, Alan LeCroy from Morganton has a previous commitment on Wednesday. Court is set to resume Thursday morning at 9:00AM.

Hope you enjoy the audio file.

Please, let me know your feedback.
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